Former U.S. President George W. Bush has formally opened his official presidential library in Dallas, Texas today. The library, officially known as the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, contains a wealth of material on the tenure of the 43rd president, and features a staggering total of more than 10 books.
Bush, speaking at the official dedication of the library, said that it contained all the books he had ever read, “and even more.”
The books, ranging from his own account of his presidency, Decision Points, to the book he was reading as he learnt of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, My Pet Goat, are housed in what former President Bill Clinton called a “vast and beautiful building” on the campus of Southern Methodist University.
For decades now, the National Archiving and Research Association (NARA) has been operating libraries to chronicle the legacy of every American president since Herbert Hoover, and Bush has reportedly spent many years picking out the books that would eventually go in his.
“One of the books that’s in there is, uh, Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss,” said Bush in his speech today. “Laura showed me that book a couple years ago. What happens is, there’s this fella Sam, and he wants his friend to eat these eggs and this ham. Problem is, they’re green.”
Other books featured in Bush’s presidential library include children’s classic Pat the Bunny and Guinness World Records 2013.
“I really like Pat the Bunny,” said Bush.
The library also houses a museum wing, which contains displays including the remains of a pretzel Bush once choked on, and a crude drawing of a dog he was gifted by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Bush said he hoped that the library would encourage students to learn more about his presidency, and present them with new ways to think about stuff.